# Six things you can offer a witch? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 7, 2017, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-things-you-can-offer-a-witch/803793 "2017-12-07T15:36:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2017, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-things-you-can-offer-a-witch/803793/1 "2017-12-07T15:36:19Z")
I’ve been reading a lot of articles about folklore lately, and not taking enough notes. Somewhere along the line I stumbled upon a list of six things, one of which you’d better have when you visit a witch. To the best of my memory they were “food, booze, tobacco, sex, death, or love,” but I’m not sure anymore. I’d really like to remember. My brain is so scrambled that I can’t remember if this was cited in a scholarly article or if it was something a blogger said off the hip. Does it sound to anyone like a familiar quotation? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2017, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-things-you-can-offer-a-witch/803793/2 "2017-12-07T15:55:12Z")
Considering how much of witch lore is made up out of fragments and speculation, the 6 things list is probably isolated to one book or article. Not a familiar quote to me and I have studied witchcraft lore at 2 different points in my life. ---
**Author:** ![ASGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@ASGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2017, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-things-you-can-offer-a-witch/803793/3 "2017-12-07T15:58:09Z")
Morticia Addams would likely offer up henbane and eye of Newt as two of them. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2017, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-things-you-can-offer-a-witch/803793/4 "2017-12-07T17:58:51Z")
Only reference I can find is in ‘How To Train Your Dragon’. The Roman Shield The ticking thing The arrow from the Land-that-does-not-exist. The key that opens all locks The heart’s stone The second best sword ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2017, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-things-you-can-offer-a-witch/803793/5 "2017-12-07T17:59:54Z")
Food works pretty good for me. Just sayin’… Although booze is also a good choice and love is fantastic, but it has to be the real true thing for that last one. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2017, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-things-you-can-offer-a-witch/803793/6 "2017-12-07T18:28:26Z")
I know some witches. Can’t say I ever heard the OP’s quote, but I’m sure that they wouldn’t mind if you had MONEY when you visited them. I’m sure they’d prefer it to DEATH. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2017, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-things-you-can-offer-a-witch/803793/7 "2017-12-07T18:35:43Z")
In my experience, weed should probably fit in there somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2017, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-things-you-can-offer-a-witch/803793/8 "2017-12-07T18:59:12Z")
Stevie Nicks Mix Tape. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2017, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-things-you-can-offer-a-witch/803793/9 "2017-12-07T19:02:56Z")
Which witch? ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2017, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-things-you-can-offer-a-witch/803793/10 "2017-12-07T20:20:21Z")
Small rocks! A duck! ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2017, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-things-you-can-offer-a-witch/803793/11 "2017-12-07T20:35:46Z")
An offer to “stir her cauldron” An offer to “pet her cat” A ride on your “broomstick” (nothing to do with Doper **Broomstick** ) ---
**Author:** ![Skara\_Brae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Skara\_Brae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skara_Brae)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2017, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-things-you-can-offer-a-witch/803793/12 "2017-12-07T20:48:32Z")
From Honest Lewis: > [@](#): > > When you visit a witch bring an offering: Food, tobacco, alcohol, secrets, sex or death. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2017, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-things-you-can-offer-a-witch/803793/13 "2017-12-07T22:28:22Z")
> [@skara\_brae](#): > > from honest lewis: thank you! ---
**Author:** ![JPrescott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e36b37/32.png) [@JPrescott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JPrescott)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2017, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-things-you-can-offer-a-witch/803793/14 "2017-12-08T03:05:14Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > Small rocks! > > A duck! Brilliant! As for the OP, it’s a first for me as well. I wonder is it a poetic thing or practical advice? ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2017, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-things-you-can-offer-a-witch/803793/15 "2017-12-08T03:27:56Z")
A bell, a book, a candle…and three other things. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2017, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-things-you-can-offer-a-witch/803793/16 "2017-12-08T20:09:43Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > …A duck! Ooooo! ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2017, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-things-you-can-offer-a-witch/803793/17 "2017-12-10T00:16:57Z")
OK… > [@Goethe](#): > > DIE HEXE (tanzend): > Sinn und Verstand verlier ich schier, > Seh ich den Junker Satan wieder hier! > > MEPHISTOPHELES: > Den Namen, Weib, verbitt ich mir! > > DIE HEXE: > Warum? Was hat er Euch getan? > > MEPHISTOPHELES: > Er ist schon lang ins Fabelbuch geschrieben; > Allein die Menschen sind nichts besser dran, > Den Bösen sind sie los, die Bösen sind geblieben. > Du nennst mich Herr Baron, so ist die Sache gut; > Ich bin ein Kavalier, wie andre Kavaliere. > Du zweifelst nicht an meinem edlen Blut; > Sieh her, das ist das Wappen, das ich führe! > (Er macht eine unanständige Gebärde.) > > DIE HEXE (lacht unmäßig): > Ha! Ha! Das ist in Eurer Art! > Ihr seid ein Schelm, wie Ihr nur immer wart! > > MEPHISTOPHELES (zu Faust): > Mein Freund, das lerne wohl verstehn! > Dies ist die Art, mit Hexen umzugehn. My question is, though, what _exactly_ is the “unanständige Gebärde”? ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2017, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-things-you-can-offer-a-witch/803793/18 "2017-12-10T12:08:14Z")
I believe that Coleridge translated it as _"a thrust of his codpiece-clad genitals_"